Eastern Notes: Nets, Pistons, Pacers
During the 2010 offseason, the Nets had dreams of drafting John Wall and luring LeBron James and Chris Bosh via free agency, but the team ended up drafting Derrick Favors and signing veterans Travis Outlaw and Johan Petro, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com details. The Nets ultimately traded 11 first-round picks — including Favors and pick swaps — with the hopes of winning a championship, but the team has won just one playoff series since 2010.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Nets hope to make a significant splash in free agency at the end of the season, Mazzeo adds in the same piece. Brooklyn has slightly over $50.5MM in guaranteed salary on the books for the 2016/17 season, as our Salary Cap Projection page shows.
- The Pistons‘ trade for Ersan Ilyasova has worked out for Detroit, but the team’s best trade during the offseason was for Marcus Morris, David Mayo of MLive opines in his latest mailbag. Mayo believes Morris’ four year, $20MM extension, which he signed while a member of the Suns, will prove to be valuable to the team during its lifetime.
- The Pacers have assigned Glenn Robinson III and Joseph Young to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Indiana’s D-League affiliate, according to the team’s website. The team also recalled Shayne Whittington from the Mad Ants.
Southeast Notes: Heat, Magic, Wizards
The Heat are still working to coalesce on the court, but the team owns a 18-11 record and off the hardwood, the team has chemistry, Ethan J. Skolnick of The Miami Herald writes. New addition Amar’e Stoudemire believes the team’s communication can help them win games.
“You are free to say whatever you need to, to a player, without them feeling some kind of way,” Stoudemire said. “If you don’t like someone, and you tell them, get back or stop the ball, they’re going to think there’s another agenda with you saying that. But if everyone gets along with each other, and they know each other, then they won’t take it the wrong way. Which helps the team.”
- Evan Fournier has improved this season, and the 23-year-old has become Orlando’s best closer in crunch time, John Denton of NBA.com opines. Fournier will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and he reportedly is seeking a deal north of $10MM per season. He turned down a four-year, $32MM offer from the Magic earlier in the year.
- Coach Scott Skiles‘ decision to include Fournier in the starting lineup is one of the reasons that the team has been successful this season, Denton writes in a separate piece. The Magic own a record of 17-13 in the first season of Skiles’ four year pact.
- Kelly Oubre has started the last four games in Otto Porter‘s absence, and the rookie is making a case for additional minutes once the team gets healthy, J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic writes. “The game is slowing down a little bit,” said Oubre. “Trying to make the right plays at the right times. Not settling and just trying to be an all-around player. I don’t want to be subjected to being a certain type of player.”
Sixers Notes: Smith, Noel, Wroten
The Sixers acquired Ish Smith earlier in the week and the team plans on making him the starting point guard for the immediate future, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Smith started Saturday’s contest against the Suns, putting up 14 points and five assists in a rare win for Philadelphia.
Here’s more from the City of Brotherly Love:
- Coach Brett Brown believes adding Smith is about more than basketball on the court, Derek Bodner of the Philadelphia magazine passes along (Twitter link). “What people here don’t know is the companionship and the mateship, and the trust that he has with Nerlens [Noel],” Brown said.
- The Sixers are hoping that adding Smith will be a spark for Noel, Pompey writes in a separate piece. Noel is averaging 10.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while sporting a player efficiency rating of 12.0 this season.
- Brown had some kind words for Tony Wroten, who was released on Wednesday, Pompey passes along via Twitter links. “It was disappointing to part ways with Tony,” Brown said. “He had been around me all my days there…It is part of sport. I hope he looks back knowing coaches gave everything we could and for the most part I think he did too. We wish him well.”
Pacific Notes: Green, Jordan, Bledsoe
The Warriors own a record of 28-1 and a major reason for the team’s success is the play of Draymond Green. While Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson receive much of the attention, Green, who re-signed with Golden State for $82MM over the five years, is the team’s most valuable player, Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post argues. The Michigan State product is averaging 14.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.1 assists to go along with 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game this season.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers understood that landing DeAndre Jordan was considered a longshot, but they believed that signing the big man would have turned around the franchise’s fortunes, Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times writes. “We just talked to [Jordan] about what this organization has achieved. It’s all about championships here,” coach Byron Scott said. “Basically, it [would have been] a fresh start for him … with some young talent. Kind of help them guys develop and hopefully when we get a couple other guys to go along with him, that we would have been a team that could definitely vie for a championship.”
- Scott added that the team plans to make next year’s meetings with free agents more about basketball, Bresnahan writes in the same piece. “I guess this summer we’ll sit down and talk about our approach as far as the guys that we’ll target this year. But that’s seven, eight months away,” Scott said.
- Eric Bledsoe, who was the subject of trade chatter during the offseason, has improved in many areas this season and Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders believes he should be considered a top-tier point guard. Bledsoe is averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while sporting a 20.9 player efficiency rating.
And-Ones: Labissiere, Bickerstaff, Dawson
Kentucky’s Skal Labissiere, once considered among the top prospects in the 2016 draft, received a brutal review from an unidentified NBA scout after today’s game with Louisville, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. “Big Skal, no strength, no toughness, no game,” the scout said. “Comes off the bench, plays 10 minutes, had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 0 for 3 from the floor. Shot an air ball on an easy hook.” Labissiere was a coveted recruit out of high school, but he has struggled greatly at the college level. He has 4 points over his last three games and just 22 over his last six. The scout was much higher on 5’9″ Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis, whom he called “the smartest player” on the Wildcats. “Yes he can [play in the NBA] and he will be drafted,” the scout said.
There’s more from around the basketball world:
- Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said his team “disrespected the game” and threatened to make changes following tonight’s loss to the Pelicans, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The coach talked about “misplaced priorities,” which he called “the core issue” behind the team’s disappointing start. “Our issue is doing things right … not because it’s going to get me a bucket … not because I get glory,” Bickerstaff said. “… Our priorities need to be clear. I need to do a better job of playing people whose priorities are clear.”
- Clippers rookie Branden Dawson had expected to report to Grand Rapids in the D-League in early January, tweets Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com. However, Los Angeles may need to keep him at the NBA level because of the injury to Blake Griffin that was disclosed today.
- The Mavericks have sent guard Justin Anderson and center Salah Mejri to the Texas Legends of the D-League, the team announced today. Anderson has appeared in 17 games with the Mavericks and four games with the Legends. Mejri has played five games with Dallas and five for the D-League team.
Bulls Rumors: Paxson, Hoiberg, Butler, Carlisle
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said the team benefited from a five- to 10-minute talk by executive vice president John Paxson, according to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Several players said Paxson’s address helped them get focused again after a difficult week that included a three-game losing streak and an incident where Jimmy Butler publicly questioned Hoiberg’s coaching style. “Look, John was a tough, tough guy,” Hoiberg said. “… Our guys really respect John and it was good that he sat in there and again that’s what we did a lot in those three days we had off. It wasn’t just time on the practice floor, but we spent time in the film room just talking things out and John was a big part of that.”
There’s more news tonight out of Chicago:
- Paxson would have preferred that Butler address the coaching situation privately, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. In a Friday morning interview on radio station WSCR-670 AM in Chicago, Paxson said the team needs to get beyond any lingering dispute between the player and coach. “My feeling is that as long as it’s been addressed, which it was, and the parties are there to move on, it will be OK,” Paxson said. “When you lose and our schedule not getting any easier, it’s very easy for anyone to point fingers. But the reality is what you have to do and what you have to understand is if you’re not in this thing together, then you might as well not be in at all.”
- Despite hitting some bumps in his first NBA coaching job, Hoiberg has a big supporter in Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, Friedell writes in another post. Their relationship began when Hoiberg played for the Pacers in the late 1990s and Carlisle worked as an assistant under Larry Bird. “Fred’s been in the NBA if you count his playing years, his management years … 15, 16, 17 years,” Carlisle said. “… I wouldn’t paint this [picture] that he’s some newcomer. … The job I see him doing [with the Bulls] is a very strong one. I wouldn’t believe the hype.”
- Last week’s incident with Butler indicates a leadership void in the Bulls’ locker room, contends Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. The columnist says Butler’s attempt at leadership seemed “forced or rushed,” but injuries and declining production have pushed Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah out of leadership positions, while Pau Gasol is “too cerebral and mature” and may opt out of his contract this coming summer.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/26/15
ABC analyst Mark Jackson is taking heat from fans, players and media in the wake of comments during Friday’s telecast that reigning MVP Stephen Curry has “hurt the game” because of his shooting prowess. Jackson, who coached the Warriors before being replaced by Steve Kerr prior to last year’s championship season, theorizes that young players are too focused on trying to shoot like Curry rather than developing their all-around talents.
This is the complete quote from Jackson, as reported by Marissa Payne of The Washington Post: “Steph Curry’s great. Steph Curry’s the MVP. He’s a champion. Understand what I’m saying when I say this. To a degree, he’s hurt the game. And what I mean by that is I go into these high school gyms, I watch these kids and the first thing they do is run to the 3-point line. You are not Steph Curry. Work on the other aspects of the game.”
Jackson’s broadcast partner, Jeff Van Gundy, also a former NBA coach, came to Curry’s defense, saying, “Those shots that he takes, if some high school joker takes them, and it’s allowed by their coach, shame on them.” Sam Moses, an AAU coach in the Oakland area, tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that Curry is a “perfect role model,” adding, “If a kid comes in and says they want to be like Steph, they talk about ball-handling more than his 3-ball. He gets to the basket more than he shoots 3-pointers. You would think kids just want to work on the long ball, but they’re working on their dribbling.”
After Friday’s game, Curry expressed confusion about the comments from his former coach. “I have to talk to him,” Curry said. “I don’t know what he means by that. If you can shoot, shoot. If you can’t, stop.”
This brings me to the topic for today: Does Curry’s remarkable shooting actually “hurt the game” because of its influence on young players? And are there other current or former players you can say the same thing about?
For decades, youths on playgrounds or in high school gyms have been dreaming about dunking like Michael Jordan, passing like “Magic” Johnson, blocking shots like Hakeem Olajuwon, rebounding like Moses Malone or handling the ball like Pete Maravich. When youngsters see their favorite players with an exceptional skill, it’s natural for them to try and copy it. Does that limit their overall development? Does Jackson have a legitimate point, or is he is speaking out of bitterness over how his tenure in Golden State ended?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.
Southeast Rumors: Eddie, Humphries, Hardaway Jr.
Wizards rookie Jarell Eddie made a strong case for staying in the NBA during today’s win over the Nets, according to J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic.com. In his first action since being signed out of the D-League on Wednesday, Eddie connected on four 3-pointers and finished the game with 12 points. Coach Randy Wittman’s advice to Eddie was,“Know who you are. I put you in there to shoot,” Michael notes (Twitter link). Eddie signed a non-guaranteed deal with Washington at the veteran’s minimum. Michael notes that Eddie can be cut anytime before January 10th without the Wizards owing him anything, but said Eddie should be safe if he keeps playing like he did today.
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- A move back to the bench has seemed to help the Wizards‘ Kris Humphries get more comfortable in his “stretch forward” role, Michael writes in a separate story. Humphries has made five of six 3-pointers since the switch, breaking out of a 2 for 19 slump. “I’m still trying to find my niche where I can do what I do really well and also continue to stretch the floor,” Humphries said. The 12th-year veteran is signed through the end of next season.
- Tim Hardaway Jr. has barely played since being traded from the Knicks to the Hawks over the summer, but New York coach Derek Fisher is still a believer in the young guard, according to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He joined a team that already had an identity and has a lot of returning guys,” Fisher said. “It’s difficult to break through in those situations. I think he belongs here in the league and when he gets his opportunity hopefully he’ll make the most of it.” Hardaway has appeared in just four games with Atlanta since the deal. He has been inactive 17 times, including today, and spent two games in the D-League. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said Hardaway is being “very professional” and cites the team’s emphasis on “player development.”
- With a core of young talent, the Magic are succeeding ahead of schedule, writes Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders. The franchise was expected to have a long road back to respectability after the 2012 trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers, but Orlando has drafted well and helped itself with deals that brought in Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier.
Clippers Notes: Griffin, Rivers, Smith, Tskitishvili
Clippers forward Blake Griffin will be out of action for at least two weeks after suffering a partially torn left quadriceps, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. That means Griffin will miss at least six games before being re-evaluated two weeks from now. The team is hoping that rest and physical therapy will be enough to treat the injury, a source told Dan Woike of The Orange County Register (Twitter link). A source close to Griffin tells Ken Berger of CBS Sports that the Clippers are confident two to three weeks of that treatment will be sufficient for Griffin to recover (Twitter link). “Tough break,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. “Blake was playing so well. We just have to keep pushing forward until his return.” The five-time All-Star is averaging 23.2 points and 8.7 rebounds through 30 games.
There’s more Clipper-related news out of Los Angeles:
- Rivers is taking a calm approach to the team’s 17-13 start, Woike writes in a separate story. The Clippers are fourth in the Western Conference standings but have been disappointing against the league’s best clubs, compiling just a 5-11 record against teams that currently hold playoff spots. Still, the coach said immediate changes aren’t needed. “I’ve had some teams where I would be panicked now,” Rivers said. “I’d have some teams where I’d go to sleep right now, they’ll be fine. So I think it depends on your team. This is a team that is just a team in motion. We made a lot of changes. It takes time.”
- The Christmas Day win over the Lakers marked the second straight game in which Josh Smith was left out of the rotation, Woike notes in the same article. Smith signed a veteran’s minimum deal with the Clippers in July, but he’s struggled to find a role with the team. He is averaging just 5.9 points and 14.6 minutes of playing time this season. Rivers gave Smith’s normal minutes to Cole Aldrich Friday night.
- Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who spent part of training camp with the Clippers, will soon be joining Champville in Lebanon, tweets international journalist David Pick. Tskitishvili has spent parts of this season in China and Japan after L.A. waived him in early October.
Western Notes: Griffin, Morris, Nowitzki
The Clippers have been a disappointment thus far this season after the franchise added numerous offseason pieces in an attempt to bolster its depth, Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post writes. “We haven’t won any big games,” said power forward Blake Griffin. “We haven’t won the games you go into it thinking, ‘Okay, this is one we have to get.’ We’ve lost all those games.” Griffin also notes that the team trying to get all its new personnel on the same page can no longer be used as an excuse, Bontemps adds.
“That was kind of the narrative early on,” Griffin told Bontemps, when asked if trying get everyone on the same page was still a legitimate excuse. “But after however many games, you can’t keep saying that over and over. At a certain point, it can’t be about new guys. It’s just got to be about buying in. Every team has some new guys. Most teams have some new guys. We have to figure something out. We have to be better than this. We are better than this and we’re not showing it.”
Here’s more from out West:
- Suns GM Ryan McDonough said that the team would have disciplined any of its players the same way as Markieff Morris, whom the club handed a two-game suspension for throwing a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek during Wednesday’s game, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic relays. “We try not to be punitive with these kind of things,” McDonough said. “We try to be fair. That’s why we consulted with the league. Sometimes, these things do get emotional. We asked for their opinion. There was precedent for these kind of situations but we would’ve done the same thing if it was any of the other 14 players on the roster.“
- Despite the Mavericks‘ attempts to add big name players, power forward Dirk Nowitzki still remains the face of the franchise and the team’s best player, Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News writes. “The names [on the scoring list] he’s passed and continues to creep up on are the greatest legends in the history of our game,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re very fortunate to be able to see a guy like this play. And we’re doing everything possible to keep him playing at a high level and keep him playing as long as possible.”
- The Rockets have assigned K.J. McDaniels and Montrezl Harrell to their D-League affiliate, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle reports.